Practical Insights on Ghana

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How Ghanaians Use ICT4D in Ghana to Improve the Country

Ghanaians are using ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies for Development) to accelerate social and economic development by improving access to information, opportunities, and services, and by promoting innovation and efficiency in various sectors. Some examples include:

  • Agriculture: ICTs are being used to improve the efficiency and productivity of smallholder farmers, through the use of precision agriculture technologies such as remote sensing and GPS-based farming tools.
  • Financial inclusion: ICTs are being used to expand access to financial services, including mobile banking and other digital financial technologies, which can help to increase financial inclusion and improve the lives of people who are unbanked or underbanked.
  • Education: ICTs are being used to improve the quality of education and expand access to learning opportunities, through the use of e-learning platforms and other digital tools.
  • Healthcare: ICTs are being used to improve access to healthcare and health information, through the use of telemedicine and other digital health technologies.
  • Infrastructure: ICTs are being used to improve infrastructure, including transportation and energy systems, through the use of smart city technologies and other digital innovations.
How Do You Define “Farmer” in Data-Driven Agriculture?

How Do You Define “Farmer” in Data-Driven Agriculture?

Published on: Apr 03 2019 by Guest Writer - 1 Comment
Who’s your farmer? This sounds like a simple question for any agricultural intervention, but it is fraught with complexity, especially for those of us who are...
Apply Now: $200,000 Remote Sensing Agriculture Technology Challenge

Apply Now: $200,000 Remote Sensing Agriculture Technology Challenge

Published on: Feb 18 2019 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Apply Now: $200,000 Remote Sensing Agriculture Technology Challenge
Smallholder farmers produce the vast majority of the world’s cocoa, the basic ingredient for chocolate. Cocoa farmers face daunting challenges: declining yields,...
Apply Now: £900,000 for Rural Connectivity Projects in Ghana and Uganda

Apply Now: £900,000 for Rural Connectivity Projects in Ghana and Uganda

Published on: Oct 08 2018 by Wayan Vota - 4 Comments
Mobile internet connectivity brings a wide range of social and economic benefits by helping to promote digital inclusion and supporting the delivery of essential...
9 Lessons Learned From Failed ICTforAg Interventions

9 Lessons Learned From Failed ICTforAg Interventions

Published on: Jun 06 2018 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on 9 Lessons Learned From Failed ICTforAg Interventions
The potential for ICTs in agricultural development is almost endless and numerous applications are being developed and deployed. However, whilst everyone would...
Surprise! Esoko’s Agricultural Market Prices Are Private Sector Failures

Surprise! Esoko’s Agricultural Market Prices Are Private Sector Failures

Published on: Jan 04 2018 by Wayan Vota - 15 Comments
We’ve all heard of Esoko, the ICTforAg company specializing in market prices for farmers. Starting in Ghana in 2007, then expanding across West Africa and...
Well That Was a Failure

Well That Was a Failure

Published on: Oct 26 2017 by Wayan Vota - 3 Comments
In early 2015, I had a brilliant idea. I thought we could use sensors to have an impact on hypertension, which is a leading cause of heart attacks, stroke, sepsis,...
Is Zero-Rated Internet Access Connecting the Unconnected?

Is Zero-Rated Internet Access Connecting the Unconnected?

Published on: Aug 21 2017 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
As the debate around zero-rated services (like Facebook’s Free Basics, Twitter Access, and Wikipedia Zero) and other emerging mobile data models continues, data...
Reducing Risk and Increasing Agricultural Loans with Mobile Money in Ghana

Reducing Risk and Increasing Agricultural Loans with Mobile Money in Ghana

Published on: Apr 17 2017 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on Reducing Risk and Increasing Agricultural Loans with Mobile Money in Ghana
Like in many developing countries, agriculture is the mainstay of the Ghanaian economy. 62 percent of Ghanaians are employed in the sector, says Doris Amponsaa...
Can You Guess the 5 Key Traits of Sustainable ICTforAg Programs?

Can You Guess the 5 Key Traits of Sustainable ICTforAg Programs?

Published on: Feb 15 2017 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
The proliferation of mobile phones among rural households in Kenya, Tanzania, and Ghana has seen a significant increase of digital information solutions for farmers....
The Status of Open Data Initiatives in West Africa

The Status of Open Data Initiatives in West Africa

Published on: Jun 29 2016 by Guest Writer - 1 Comment
Open data offers many improvements for governance and services. As technology allows for more interoperability and a stronger free-flow of information, the government...